Fastener for retort-doors.



I F. L. MILLER.

FASTENEH FOR RETOBT DOORS.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR AW Emu W By Attorneys,

WITNESSES (M F. L. MILLER. FASTENER FOR RETORT DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I917- Patent-ed Apr. 15, 1919a 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WiTNESSES:

"zha By Attorneys, 5W. oww

TED STATES PA H FRANKLOUIS MILLER, OF BABK ERSBILRG, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOIR .TO PERFECTION WOODSTEA'MING RETGRT 00., FPABKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, QA'CORPOCRATION FAST-ENER FOR RETORT-DOORS.

nsoaess.

fipecification of Letterscl atent.

Patented am. c, aai-e.

Application filedll'ulyG, 1917. Serial No.178,921.

Be it *known that T, {FRANK LonrsMrnnnR,

. a citizen of the United States of America,

' in Fasteners for Retort-"Doors, 0f Whichthe following is a specification.

This invention :relates to closures "or doors forre'torts orother'containers offiuid'under pressure, and: aims to provide improvements therein,

The present invention provides a :dlosure or door of the kind above referred to, Whl'Cl'l is of simple oons'tructiomefi'eotlve 1n operation, and consisting of simple and readily assembled parts. p

An embodiment of :the invention is '1llustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 shows a door on"arejt0r-t,tlre door being'in closed position :and viewed in *front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view similar'to Fig. 1, the door. being applied'to a'retort and viewed inirear v elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section .on the line A-B, .Fig. '1, 'showin'gthe' parts in 'closedposition Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3,. showing the'parts in position foropening.

In said drawings, numeral "1 designate the open head of a steaming retort or similar opening, and 2 designates a plate or door preferably concave on itsinner side,

and adapted to close the' openinginthe head 1. A packing 3 is preferably 'provided between .the head 1 andplate 2. Thispacking may be conveniently carried in a 'dove tail slot formed in the plate 2, and the retort head may be provided with a rim or sharpened edge 4 to make contact with the packing 3.

The door or plate 2 is preferably connected to the retort in such manner as to be swung to open and closed positions. A hinge 5 conveniently serves this purpose,

For locking the door or plate to the retort head the door or plate 2 is provided on its inner side with a plurality of locking levers 6. The retort head is provided with an inner shoulder or shoulders 7 with which the ends of the locking levers 6 are adapted to engage, in looking position, to hold the door or plate 2 locked.

The locking levers 6 are pivotally connected to the door 2, as by means of U-bolts 8 passing throughslots '9 in the locking levers *6. These slots 9 are preferably elongated to permit of radial extension, and

the reverse, of the locking levers 6.

i The locking levers 6 are adapted to be radially-extended, and the reverse, in order to bring their ends under the shoulder or shoulders7, and in this position'to be'turned on their *pivots :in 'order 130 press the .door

against the retort "head and close the opening-againstescape .of fluid. To this endthe looking levers preferably have their inner ends connected to a single spider 10, so that all .of the docking levers may be -moved together. The spider '10is givenaxial movement'by a shaft 11. "This shaft 11 is screwthreaded, and preferably engages 3.211111712 fixed upon thetplate or'door2, and preferably hasa swiveled-oonnection to the. spider 10, the shaft .11 conveniently having a reducedend .13. A washer-and cotter-pin 14. serve'to hold the spider 10 upon thereduced portion '13 of the shaft.

A hand Wheel 16 .or the like serves for turning the-shaft 1'1.

. Operation: 'Whenthe parts arein the po- 'sition shown in Fig. 4 the door or plate 2 maybe placed or. swung in position to close the opening inthe retort "head 1. "To lock the door in place the threaded shaft 11 is turned'bymeans of the hand wheel 16,-the

threaded I engagement of the shaft 11 with the nut12 moving the shaft and spider 10 carried thereon aXiallyinWard. This axial movement of the spider straightens the looking lovers 6, causing them -to radially eX- tend and to cause their ends to project under the shoulder or shoulders"? upon the retort head. The slots 9 in the levers 6 per mit of the radial movement of the levers 6. If, after the ends of the levers 6 are in contact with the shoulder or shoulders 7, the shaft 11 is further turned, the force of the screw is applied, through the pivots or U- bolts 8, to press the door tightly against the edges 4: of the retort head. In this manner the plate or door 2 closes the retort head against escape of fluid. The pivots or U- bolts 8 are adjustable, by means of nuts, to adjust the action of the looking levers 6.

To open the door the threaded shaft 11 is moved in the reverse direction, viz., axially outward, by turning the hand wheel 16, the shaft 11, through the spider 10, drawing the locking levers 6 upward and radially inward, the ends of the locking levers 6 being thereby disengaged from the shoulder or shoulders 7, whereupon the door 2 'may be moved or swung away from the opening in the retort head, to permit access to the retort.

Modifications may be made in the emlbodiment specifically illustrated and de scribed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

- What is claimed is 1- 1. Fastening means comprising a plurality of levers, means for simultaneously rocking said levers and advancing them substantially in the direction of their length, said means comprising a threaded shaft extending through the door to the inner side, a threaded part in said door with which said shaft engages, and a part on the inner side of the door axially movable by said shaft, said levers being pivoted to said axially .movable part, said simultaneous movement of said levers acting to bring them successively into their engaging and binding positions, and vice versa, acting to bring them su'ccessiv'elyout of their binding and engaging positions.

2. Fastening means comprising a plurality of levers, means for simultaneously rocking said levers and advancing them substantially in the direction of their length, said levers having a sliding pivotal mounting upon said door, said means comprising a threaded shaft extending through the door to the inner side, a threaded part in said door with which said shaft engages, and a part on. the inner side of the door axially movable by said shaft, said levers being pivoted to said axially movable part, said simultaneous movement of said levers acting to bring them successively into their engaging and binding positions, and vice versa, acting to bring them successively out of their binding and engaging positions.

3. Fastening means comprising a plurality of levers, means for simultaneously rocking said levers and advancing them subs/tan.- tially in the direction of their length, said means comprising a threaded shaft extending through the door to the inner side, a threaded part in said door with which said shaft engages, and a part on the inner side of the door axially movable by said shaft, said levers being pivoted to said axially movable part, said simultaneous movement of said levers acting to brin them successively into their engaging an binding positions, and vice versa, acting to bring them successively out of their binding and engaging positions, said axially-mova-ble part and the ends of the levers connected thereto,

being moved in a direction away from said door to bring said levers into engaging and binding position.

4. Door fastening means comprising a plurality of levers made in the shape of a bell-crank and slotted near their outer ends, pivots on theinside of a door for said levers, said levers being adapted to move longitudinally, as well as rock on said pivot, when the inner ends of the levers are moved in or out, a nut to which the inner ends of the levers are pivotally connected, a threaded shaft on which said nut is swiveled, and a threaded part upon the door in which said shaft turns.

5. Door fastening means comprising a plurality of levers made in the shape of bell cranks, and axially movable means for simultaneously rocking said levers and advancing them substantially in the direction of their length, said simultaneous movement of said levers acting to bring them successively into their engaging, and binding positions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FRANK Louis MILLER.

Witnesses BROOKS E.. SHEA, LOUISE CREED.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

